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A clear Distinction between the Old Covenant, or Old Testament, and the New Covenant, or New Testament; and how Christ has abolished and taken away the First Covenant and Testament, and established the Second.

And so it is clear, that the new covenant is not according to the old; for in the old covenant, the priest's lips were to preserve the people's knowledge. And Ezra had a pulpit of wood to read the law to the people upon; the law was written in tables of stone. But in the new covenant and testament Christ ends this priesthood, whose lips were to preserve the people's knowledge; and they are to look unto Christ Jesus, who is the treasure of wisdom and knowledge in the new covenant.

So the new covenant is not according to the old; for the old covenant, and the law, commanded offerings and sacrifices; but Christ in the new covenant, offered up himself once for all the offerings and sacrifices, and ended them all, and the old covenant also.

So the new covenant is not according to the old; nor the New Testament is not as the Old. For the New Testament is in the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin; and in him, the one offering, ‘who offered up himself once for all, who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.’ The New Testament is in Christ, who is the life and light of men. The Old Testament, in the old covenant, was for the outward light, and lamps, and temple, tabernacle and sanctuary, and the priest's lips, which preserved the people's knowledge. But the New Testament, in the new covenant is, ‘that Christ is the treasure of wisdom and knowledge; and he is the everlasting high priest, who has offered up himself for them, and is risen, and is alive again, and lives for evermore;’ and is their light and life.

But in the old covenant and testament the priests had chambers in the temple; which chambers and priesthood Christ has abolished, and made his chamber in the hearts of his people.

In the old covenant and testament there was a covenant of salt, with which the sacrifices were to be salted, and the priests were to salt them. But in the new and everlasting covenant and testament, Christ, the high and everlasting priest, salts all the spiritual sacrifices of his people, and makes them savory, and makes his followers the salt of the earth, and the light of the world; so that they need not have the outward salt, and light, and lamps in the old covenant, which Christ has abolished.

In the old covenant the Jews were to keep their feasts of tabernacles, and the feast of passover, throughout all their generations; and they ate of this passover when they came out of Egypt. But in the new covenant and testament, the Jews in spirit, that pass out of the spiritual Egypt, feed upon Christ, their heavenly passover, and keep the heavenly passover throughout all their generations in the new covenant, and keep their heavenly spiritual feast of tabernacles, dwelling in the green booths of the green tree, Christ Jesus, the heavenly man, the second Adam, whose leaf never withers, fades nor falls, but is always green. And Christ abolishes the feasts and Passovers of the old covenant; so the new covenant is not according to the old.

And the Jews, in the old covenant, brought all their first fruits, and offered them to the priests; so there was a feast of the first fruits. But in the New Testament and covenant of light and grace, they offer the first fruits of the spirit, what the spirit inspires them with, or reveals to them; which spirit has ploughed up the fallow ground of their hearts, and so they sow to the spirit, and of the spirit reap life; which crop goes into God's garner, which the heavenly high priest gathers into his heavenly garner, his heavenly wheat, that is threshed out with his heavenly spiritual flail. For the priests, in the old covenant, had their first fruits brought into the outward garner, which Christ abolishes. So the new covenant is not according to the old.

And so it is clear, the new covenant and testament is not according to the old, nor the new and living way according to the old way among the Jews; which old covenant and testament, and old law, and old way among the Jews served, until the seed Christ came, who is the new and living way in his new covenant and New Testament; and has abolished that old way, Old Testament, covenant and law.

And in the old covenant, their circumcision was in the flesh, and in that they were to obey and serve God; and he that was not circumcised, was not to eat of the sacrifice, but to be cut off; and the priest and Levite was to circumcise them. But in the new covenant and testament, Christ, the high priest, is the minister of the circumcision of the spirit; which circumcision of the spirit puts off the body of death, and the sins of the flesh, which has gotten up in man and woman by transgression. For Adam and Eve did not have t a body of sin and death before they transgressed. So the Christians in the new covenant of grace and light, are the circumcision of the spirit, which serve and worship God in the spirit; and such eat of the heavenly passover and supper (Christ Jesus). If they are not circumcised with the spirit, they are cut off from keeping that heavenly feast of the passover (Christ Jesus.) So the new covenant and testament is not according to the old for Christ has abolished both the Jewish passover and circumcision of the old covenant.

In the old covenant and testament, those who resisted the high priest, and opposed Moses, died an outward death by the hands of two or three witnesses. But in the new covenant, those who neglect to hear the great prophet and high priest (Christ Jesus) whom God has raised up, like unto Moses, and will not have him to reign over them, nor hear him that speaks from heaven, a more severe punishment comes upon them, than those who died by the hands of two or three witnesses (that did resist Moses;) for that was a natural death in the old covenant, but this is an eternal death [to the life of God] in the new covenant. Therefore hear the Son of God in the new covenant, and you shall live; ‘and while it is called to day, hear his voice,’ (for you may be dead before tomorrow.) I say, hear him that speaks from heaven, whose voice shakes the earth, and so all that pertains to the earth, or is earthly; and not the earth only, but the heavens also, that they may appear, which cannot be shaken, namely, the seed of life. So people were to hear Moses and the high priest in the old covenant and testament. But now they are to hear Christ, their high priest and prophet, that God has raised up in the new covenant, in his grace, light and spirit. For the law came by Moses, in the old covenant; and all the people of the Jews was to hear the law in the old covenant, and do it, and live: ‘But grace and truth is come by Jesus Christ,’ in the new covenant and testament of light, life, and grace. And so all the children of the new covenant are to hear Christ in his grace, and to be under the grace, and truth's teaching, which will bring their salvation.

And so in the new covenant the holy ghost, which proceeds from the Father and the Son, leads the servants of God and Christ into all truth, and reproves the world for their unbelief, and their false judgment and unrighteousness. So that they need not have the priest's lips of the old covenant to preserve their knowledge, nor the priest to kill the clean beasts, to offer up for their sins, to cleanse them with the blood of the clean beasts; and they need not have the clean beasts to die for them. For Christ, the lamb without blemish, has tasted death for every man, and died for the sins of the whole world, and so not only for the Jews.

So God poured out his spirit upon the house of Israel, that by it they might understand the law of works, and do it.

And as all the outward Jews in the old covenant were to walk in the law of works; so in the new covenant of light and grace, and New Testament, they are to walk in the light and spirit, and the law of life in Christ Jesus, as every one has received him.

And as the outward Jews in the old covenant and testament received the law from Mount Sinai; so the inward Jews in the spirit in the new covenant and testament receive the law of life in Christ Jesus, laid in heavenly Zion.

And so it is clear, the new covenant and testament is not according to the old.

For in the old covenant and testament, the outward Jew had his days, times, months and years, and feasts. But in the New Testament and new covenant of light, and life and grace, they came to the heavenly feast, and to the day of Christ, and are called children of his day; and so have their bread from heaven, and keep the heavenly and everlasting feast in Christ Jesus, who abolishes the Jews' feasts of the old covenant.

And in the old covenant and testament, God gave unto the Jews his Sabbath as a sign, after he brought them out of Egypt, though he had not given it to Adam, nor to the old world, nor to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by command to keep, but to the Jews, and they were to keep it holy. They were not to do their own work; no, not so much as to make a fire to dress their meat, nor to think their own thoughts; for six days they were to labor, and to do all their works in. And this law that commanded this Sabbath, which God gave unto the Jews as a sign, served until the seed Christ, the substance, came; and when he was come, they accused him and his disciples as being sabbath breakers, because his disciples gathered some ears of corn on the Sabbath day to eat. And he healed on the Sabbath day.

So the true christians and children in the new covenant of light and grace, that do enter into the rest by belief in the light, which is the life in Christ, cease from their own works; and in Christ, their Sabbath, their rest, they bear no burden; and in him they do not think their own thoughts; and in him they are not kindling their own fires; and in Christ they are not gathering their own food; for he is their bread of life from heaven; so that in him they shall not hunger. He destroys the devil and his works, which has burdened man and beast, yes, even the whole creation; and in Christ people are over and above their own thoughts. So all are to keep the eternal Sabbath, the eternal rest, by belief in the light, which is the life in Christ, this holy day, this holy rest and Sabbath, which ends the sign, that was to be kept holy in the old covenant. For if the Jews in the old covenant and testament did not keep the Sabbath holy, they were to be stoned to death with outward stones; but those who do not keep in Christ, by belief in the holy rest, he, the top and corner stone, falls upon them, and grinds them to powder, and stones them to death with the heavenly stone, who do not keep in Christ, the holy, eternal, everlasting rest and Sabbath.

So here the new covenant is not according to the old; for the old had an outward temporal day; but they in the new covenant have the substance, Christ, and his eternal day, and enter into his everlasting rest, by belief in his light, which is the life in him.

And these are Christ's ministers of the spirit, and believers, and true-christians, that stand in this armor, and have these weapons, and follow Christ, and fight under his banner of love, with his spiritual armor and weapons, in his new and living way, and new testament, and new covenant of grace and light; and follow not the Jews in their carnal armour and weapons, and signs, and shadows; for the substance is come.

So the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, are not according to the Jews' old covenant and testament, and old way, which served until the seed Christ came. And all those signs and shadows in the old covenant, upheld with their outward weapons and carnal armour, have done their service to hold up their signs and shadows; but Christ is come, and has abolished them.

And so it is clear, that the new covenant and new testament, and new and living way, are not according to the old covenant, and old testament, and old way among the Jews, as was said before.

And now, if you should object, that Abraham, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Moses, and the prophets, and the angels swore; Christ the son of God is greater than Moses, who said ‘Before Abraham was, I am;’ and he reigns over the house of Joseph and Jacob, and fulfils the prophets; and he said, ‘Swear not at all;’ and Christ the great prophet, whom God had raised up, is to be heard in all things.

And the apostle said, ‘Let every man speak the truth to his neighbor;’ which speaking truth is set up by Christ and his apostles instead of swearing, which was commanded in the old time, and under the old covenant and testament, in which the law commanded people to swear, which oath was to end the controversy and strife among men; which served until Christ the seed came. But when Christ came, he abolished the law that commanded swearing, and swearing also.

And so it is clear, that the new covenant, and new testament, and new and living way, is not according to the old covenant and testament, and the Jews' old way.

And here it may be seen, what labor the apostle had, to bring people into the faith in the new covenant and testament, and from under the works of the law in the old covenant and testament, and from under the curse.

So those who are redeemed from under the law, are redeemed from under slavery, and outward elements of the world, which elements of the world the law commanded to be observed; for the law commanded the priests' garments to be distinct from others.

And the law commanded an outward temple and tabernacle, and a worldly sanctuary, and outward altars, and candles, and candlesticks, and outward days, and months, and times, and years, and feasts, and outward trumpets were blown at such times; and sacrifices, and offerings of beasts, and fowls, and other creatures.

And here the new covenant and new testament, and the new and living way is not according to the old testament and covenant.

For the new covenant and new testament is heavenly and spiritual. And the law of life, that is in Christ Jesus, is not according to the law received upon Mount Sinai, which commanded all these outward elementary things to the Jews; and they were to observe and do them. And the law served until the seed came; which the seed Christ is come, and has abolished them all, and changed the law, and covenant, and priesthood, and the old testament.

And so, as I said before, it is clear, that the new covenant and testament, and the law of life are not according to the old covenant, and the old testament, and the law from Mount Sinai, that was written in tables of stone.

And now also, are not the priests' garments, their surplice, and white sleeves, and their other distinguishing garments, a work of the law, though they do not offer sacrifices and offerings, as the outward old Jews' priests did?

[Ezra's "pulpit" was a wooden platform, where he and thirteen Levites stood addressing up to 42,000 Jews who had never heard the law, having been in exile in Babylon for generations. It was read to them for 5-6 hours, Ezra doing the reading, and the Levites adding explanations. For a preacher, to pretend his single-person pulpit is justified by Ezra's platform holding fourteen people, which pulpit was necessary for them to to address 42,000 people, is a stretch.]

So the apostles were of faith, in the new covenant and testament, and not of the law, wrestling with their works and weapons of the old testament. And the law was added because of transgression, and served until the seed Christ came, who redeems from under the law, Christ Jesus, by whom the world was made. So he was before man fell into transgression, by reason of which the law was added, which served until the seed came, which seed is Christ, who does fulfill the promises and the law, and so redeems his people from under the works of the law, and from under the curse.

So this righteousness in the new testament is larger than the righteousness of the law, which the Lord gave unto the Jews, which he had not given the like to other nations. So this is larger than the old covenant.

So here the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, are not according to the old testament and covenant, and the Jews' way in their old time. Nor is the old law from Mount Sinai according to the law of life, which is in Christ Jesus.

And Moses was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; that is, all these signs, shadows, and figures. But Christ, as a son over his own house, whose house we are, namely, in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way. So Christ is over his house, the Jews in the spirit, in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way; and they enjoy him, the substance, who makes all things new.

And Moses was faithful in all his house, in the old covenant and testament, in the old time, over the outward Jews with the outward shadows and signs, which were commanded by the law, and served until Christ the seed came; and when he came, he abolished them. So as Moses was to be heard in his house in the old covenant concerning his shadows, figures, and signs; so Christ is to be heard in his house in the new covenant, who is the substance, and abolishes all the figures and signs of the old covenant. And God said, ‘This is my beloved son, hear you him.’

And the high priest, in the time of the law and old covenant, once a year went with the blood of the clean beasts into the holy place, which he offered for himself, and the sins of the people. But Christ being come a high priest, by his own blood he has entered once into the holy place, namely, heaven itself; and has obtained eternal redemption for us.

So the blood of the beasts cleansed from sin in the time of the old covenant and testament; but in the time of the new covenant and testament the blood of Christ Jesus, the lamb without blemish, cleanses us from all sin.

So, as the priest entered into the holy place made with hands, with the blood of bulls and goats, for the cleansing of himself and the people in the old testament and covenant, which were figures. But Christ in the new testament, is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

So all are to look unto Jesus in the new covenant and new testament, which is not according to the old; for in the old the people were to look unto the priest for their cleansing, and to the outward blood and water, by which they were cleansed. But in the new covenant and testament they are to look unto Christ Jesus, his blood, his life, and unto the heavenly water of life, by which they are cleansed.

So the new covenant and new testament is not according to the old. For Christ, the high priest in his new covenant and testament, and new and living way, and in his new Jerusalem, and he, the offering, and his blood, is not of the building of the old covenant and old testament, and old priesthood, with their offerings of the outward blood of beasts, and their cleansing with the outward water; I say, Christ is of a far greater and more perfect tabernacle, ... not made with hands, than that outward tabernacle, which is built and made with hands. So he is not of the old covenant and testament building.

And in the old covenant and testament, it was the old way to anoint the priests, the prophets, and the kings, with outward oil. But in the new covenant and new testament, and new and living way, Christ, the great prophet and high priest, who is made higher than the heavens, and the King of kings, God has anointed him with the holy ghost, and he does anoint his Jews in the spirit, and his true believers and followers with his spirit, in his new covenant and new testament. So the anointing in the new covenant and new testament, and new and living way, is not according to the old.

And so, the manner of the anointing is also different in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, from the manner of the anointing in the old covenant; in which the prophets, priests, and Levites, did anoint the prophets, and the priests, and the kings. But in the new covenant God and Christ anoints his people with his spirit, which God has poured out upon all flesh. And so that outward anointing among the Jews in the old covenant, Christ has abolished, which was with outward oil.

So Moses was the leader of the outward Jews in the old covenant in his day, with his types, figures, signs, and shadows; and the rock Christ followed them. But in the new covenant and testament Christ is the leader and commander of his people; and is the good shepherd, that has laid down his life for his sheep, and goes before them (who is the substance) and not after them, as he did after the old Israel in their shadows. And his sheep do know his voice in the new covenant, and they do follow him into the pastures of life, that are always green; and to the living springs, that are always fresh.

And in the old covenant and testament they had an outward ark, and in it they had the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and outward altars; and in the ark they put the testament. But Christ in his new covenant puts his testament, his spirit, in the hearts of his people; and the altar is spiritual, upon which the saints do offer up their spiritual sacrifices; and they have their heavenly bread in their hearts, which gives them life. For those who eat of the manna, died in the wilderness; but those who eat of this heavenly bread, it gives them life eternal.

And as Aaron's priesthood was tried by the budding of his rod in the ark, when all the rest of the outward rods, that were laid in the ark with his, did not. So are Christ's ministers, in the new covenant, by the budding of the spiritual rod in their tabernacle, and bringing forth spiritual fruits; which spirit God has poured upon all flesh; which fruits of the spirit they bring forth, and that which they have profited by the spirit, they come to minister.

So the new covenant is not according to the old, with its outward rod, testament, and manna, outward tabernacle and altar; for all these outward things served but until the time of reformation, until the seed Christ, the heavenly and spiritual man, came, in his new covenant of light, life and grace, who puts the heavenly testimony, and heavenly manna and rod in the heavenly ark, the sanctified hearts, and who offer up the spiritual sacrifices upon the spiritual altar. And Christ abolishes all those outward things, with the old covenant and testament, and establishes the new.

And in the old covenant the priests, which were made by the law of a carnal commandment, were to burn incense at the outward temple at Jerusalem, and there they were to do it by course, and served in their course.

So this pure offering and incense, which should be offered unto God in every place, is by and in his pure spirit to the pure God, the Lord of the hosts of the Jews in the spirit; yes, and the Gentiles also.

So likewise in this, the new covenant is not according to the old, but is larger. For in the old covenant the priests by turns were to burn outward incense only in one outward temple. But in the new covenant all the believers in Christ Jesus are to offer spiritual incense in every temple and place, in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way; for Christ abolishes and puts out, and to an end, the outward fires of the outward incense, and tabernacle, and temple, and sanctuary, those outward worldly things, which served until the time of reformation by Christ the seed. And so the new covenant is not according to the old; for the one was of natural and outward things, and the other of inward and spiritual.

And God sent Moses to lead the people out of outward Egypt; and they did not come out from outward Egypt until Pharaoh's first-born was slain. And they had light in Goshen, before they came out, though darkness was over the land of Egypt. But Christ in his new covenant leads his Jews in spirit out of spiritual Egypt and Sodom; and they have light in their Goshen before they come out, though spiritual darkness is in spiritual Egypt. And the first birth of the spiritual Pharaoh must be slain, before the Jew inward comes out of the spiritual house of slavery and darkness within, and to follow Christ, the captain of their salvation, in his new testament and new covenant, and new and living way; and so to worship God in his holy spirit, and in his truth, that the devil is out of.

So outward Pharaoh oppressed the outward Jews; and spiritual Pharaoh oppresses the spiritual Jews, and will not let them go forth, until the first and spiritual birth of him be slain.

And the priests sprinkled the people with the blood, which is the life of the clean beasts, in the old covenant. But Christ in his new covenant and testament sprinkles his precious blood, (which is his life), upon the hearts and consciences of his people, by which they are made clean. And the priest made atonement with the blood of the clean beasts, for the sins of himself and the people; but Christ with his blood has made atonement to God for the sins of his people. So the blood and the priest of the new covenant are contrary to the old, and exceed it. For they offered up the blood of the beasts, and he offered up his own blood, his life, for his people.

And so the new covenant and testament is not according to the old; for Christ abolished all those outward washings and offerings, and the law that commanded them.

In the old covenant and testament the priests were to wear the outward fine linen, and the high priest the urim and thummim written upon his breast, which signifies light and perfection; but in the new covenant and testament, Christ is the light himself, and the perfection of all those outward things in the old covenant, and the substance of them all. And the righteousness of Christ is the fine linen, which will never dirt nor wax old; which all Christ's believers in his new covenant and testament wear; and they need not wash this fine linen, which all the believers that wear it, are the royal priesthood, and offer up the spiritual sacrifices. And as the priests in the old covenant were to wash their outward fine linen, which outward fine linen Christ does abolish, and the priests and their garments, and the wearing of the urim and thummim upon their breasts in the old covenant; and sets up his righteousness in the new covenant, for his royal priesthood to wear, with light and perfection in their hearts. And so, in this, also, the new covenant is not according to the old.

And so, the lame, blind, blemished, broken, scurvy, scabbed offerings, were not accepted of God in the old testament and old covenant; and much less are they accepted in the new covenant of grace, light, and life; for in the new covenant, the children of the covenant of grace offer spiritual sacrifices.

So it is clear here, the new covenant and testament is not according to the old.

And whosoever of the seed of Aaron had any blemish, was not to offer the bread of his God in the old covenant and testament; and whatever man has a blemish, he shall not approach. A man that is blind or lame, or scabbed, crushed, broken foot or hand, or crooked back, or a dwarf, or that has a blemish in his eye, or scurvy, or has his stones broken, or any superfluity, or has any blemish, of the seed of Aaron the priest, he shall not come near the offerings of the Lord. No, the priests were not to drink wine or strong drink, when they went into the tabernacle to offer. So perfect, whole, clean, and clear, without blemish, they were to be in the old covenant, that offered those outward things, in the outward tabernacle or temple. Then much more perfect, and more clean and clear, is Christ Jesus, the high priest, who offered up himself to God, without spot or blemish, for the sins of the whole world, and gave his holy flesh for the life of the whole world, and who abolished all those offerers, offerings [and ordinances] in the old covenant.

So he cleanses away the inward brokenness, crookedness, scurvy, scabs, blindness, deformities, lameness, and blemishes, that all the believers in the light, which is the life in Christ, might offer their spiritual sacrifices unto God. And so the children of the new covenant are called a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and do exalt Christ the substance, who has abolished the old priesthood, and his offerings in the old covenant, which are not according to the new covenant and testament.

And there were to be no drinkers of wine nor strong drink, when they were to approach before God in the old covenant; and drunken priests were forbidden in the time of the law and old covenant, much more in the time of the gospel.

For whatsoever was blemished or evil-favored, was not to be offered to the Lord in the old covenant. But in the new covenant, which is not according to the old, all that are the followers of Christ, who brings them up into the image of God, and the believers in the light, which is the life in him, and are called the children of light, and are born of God, and have passed from the death that blemishes them, and made them ill-favored, and crooked, and scabbed, and blind; all these that are born of God and children of light, are very well favored, like God, their Father, and he does accept their spiritual offerings and sacrifices, and them also whom Christ does present to God in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, which is not according to the old testament and old covenant, the Jews' old way; for the one was outward, and the other inward; the one was carnal, (that is, in carnal ordinances), and the other spiritual.

Now all these outward clean creatures, and those who eat of them, were to be clean also; for the priests were to be sanctified and cleansed before they eat of the sacrifice. I say, all these clean meats and offerings were a type of Christ Jesus, the offering, and of the heavenly clean food, that the children of the new covenant feed upon; for they were not to feed upon such outward things, as were torn or died of themselves; for they were dogs' meat in the old covenant. But in the new covenant, which is not according to the old, all the creatures of God are clean unto them, and every creature of God is good, and they cannot feed upon any thing that is torn, nor that which dies of itself. I say, they cannot inwardly feed their souls with it; but their food is that which is living, and from him that is living, who did not die of himself, and is living, and dies no more; and the spiritual food and things are not torn things, and do not die, which the Jews in the spirit feed upon.

So the new covenant and testament is not according to the old; for the Jews in the old covenant fed upon outward things, and upon that which was clean. The priests were to eat part of the sacrifices in a clean place, in the temple. But the Jews in spirit and new covenant, unto them every creature of God is good and clean, and their food is spiritual, and they eat of the sacrifice Christ Jesus, their bread from heaven,* all the royal priesthood of God in his new covenant eat of it in the clean temple and tabernacle, their hearts, of the clean heavenly food. So the new testament is not according to the old.

And the Jews had a high priest over the rest of the priests in the old testament and covenant, which could not continue by reason of death, but when one was deceased, they got another to offer their sacrifice, and he had the tenth of the tenths.

So our high priest is not according to the old, and his followers are not according to the old priests' followers; for they are all spiritually minded, and the spiritual cannot feed upon that which is torn or dies of itself, nor offer it, but upon that which is living, and holy, and heavenly, and spiritual in the new covenant; for that which dies of itself, or is torn, is not spiritual, but carnal, and the royal clean priests in the new covenant cannot feed thereon.

So he abolishes all those outward holy garments, and tabernacle, and temple, and offerings, and gifts, which were called holy in the old covenant, but worldly in the new covenant.

So it is Christ, ‘whom God the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world,’ John 10:36, that makes an end of sin, and finishes transgression in his new covenant, who through death destroys death, and the devil, who had the power of death, that made man and woman unholy. And it is Christ Jesus that makes all things holy and new, and sanctifies all things by his word, and all his gifts are holy; who changes the first priesthood with all the outward things, which were called holy in the old testament, which were figures of the holy spiritual things in the new testament, and the spiritual sanctuary, temple, and tabernacle, in the new covenant and testament. All the Jews in the spirit feed upon Christ, their sacrifice, which he gives for the life of the world; and so eat the bread from heaven, in the holy and heavenly sanctuary, tabernacle, and temple, that are not of the old covenant's building.

So Christ in his new covenant and testament, the high priest made higher than the heavens, in offering up himself once for the sins of the whole world, is not according to the Jews' high priests, and their offerings, but does put an end to them all, and abolishes them all, and establishes his new testament in the spirit, and new covenant of light, life and grace. I say, Christ, the high priest who was dead, and died for man, to fetch man out of death to life, and to destroy him that kept him in death, is alive again, and lives for evermore, and is a high priest forever among all his royal priesthood, and reigns in his holy sanctuary, tabernacle, and temple of the sanctified hearts.

And so in this the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, are not according to the old.

And as they in the old covenant were not to touch the dead, nor the unclean creatures, so the Jews in the spirit are not to touch the unclean creeping spirits, which are like beasts and ravenous fowls. And those are the unclean spirits which the apostles would not have the saints to touch; for if they did, they must be washed with heavenly water, and the blood of Jesus, before they can be cleansed. And for eating, or touching of outward creatures, he told the saints in the new covenant, that ‘whatsoever was sold in the markets, that they might eat.’

But in the new covenant, which is not according to the old, everything must be washed with the water of life, and cleansed by Christ, and come through his fiery baptism, before they can come into his treasure, and camp, and city, and be perfect. For the seven days that were to pass upon them in the old covenant, was the perfection of days. And that was outward fire and water, that was to cleanse and purify he Jews, and those outward things; but all the believers in the light must be washed with the heavenly water, and purified with heavenly fire, and the blood of Jesus Christ, before they can come into his heavenly camp.

[*Notice, a believer has escaped the distress of condemnation, (separated from God with lack of peace and joy), while the unbeliever remains in condemnation. Every man who walks by his carnal mind and imagination, instead of walking by the Spirit of God's direction, is in condemnation. We all start in condemnation; our damnation does not slumber, waiting to be incurred sometime in the future. Since we all know that beginning belief does not result in lasting peace, joy, and power, then the belief this scripture speaks to is beyond a beginning belief; instead it is the result of a belief that is rewarded along the long journey of belief, which is progressive obedient faith.]

And so by these spiritual and heavenly trumpets, you are gathered to the heavenly feast, and bread, and wine, and honey, from heaven, and the new milk from the living word, that lives and abides, whose heavenly breast is never dry, but is always full of heavenly milk. And so as the heavenly trumpet sounds, the Jews in spirit move and go, and follow the heavenly spiritual Lamb in their fine linen, his righteousness, and keep their feast of the heavenly bread, that cannot be leavened. So the bread, the wine, the milk, the honey, the water, the trumpets, and the tabernacle, are heavenly and spiritual in the new covenant and testament, which are not according to the old, with their outward bread, and water, and trumpets, and outward tabernacle. All those outward things Christ abolished, which served but until the seed came to reform it; and in the time of the reformation of Christ, the heavenly and spiritual man, he reforms his believers and followers out of the natural, outward, and carnal, into the heavenly, inward, and spiritual. And so the new and living way, and the new covenant and testament, and the new time of reformation, are not according to the Jews' old covenant and testament, and old time and way.

‘But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is over their hearts,’ said the apostle, namely, the Jews and other Jewish minded people; for while Moses is read, and in reading the old testament, it keeps the veil upon them. Then how can those who not only read it, but practice many things in the old testament, possibly call themselves Christians of the new covenant? But does not the apostle tell you, ‘The veil is over their hearts when Moses is read?’ And the old testament and veil are done away by Christ in his new testament and new covenant of light, life, and grace. And those, who do not believe the new covenant, have the veil over them, and their glory is no glory; and they are under the ministration of death and condemnation, and not under the ministration of the new testament of life; for the veil remains not taken away in reading of the old testament. ‘And even to this day, while Moses is read, the veil is over their hearts,’ as the apostle said.

And now, you so-called christians, is not ‘swearing truly by the Lord, and performing the oath unto the Lord, for the ending the strife among men,’ is not this in the ministration of Moses? But do you not swear oaths [such as, "to tell the truth], not this your practice? Was this not commanded through Moses command by the law in the old covenant? And are not outward temples and pulpits from Moses and the old testament? And are not tithes, and offerings, and first fruits, Moses' veil and the old testament? Is not the observing of days and months, and the passover, which you call the time of Easter, and your Pentecost, as you call it, Moses and the old testament? And is not calling of your days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and your calling the months by the names of May, June, July, August, etc., none of which are from Moses nor Christ, but from the heathen, in which your practice is not according to the old covenant nor the new? Are not the Sabbath, and the priests' surplice and white sleeves, and the change of garments to differ them from other people, Moses and the old testament, and not the new testament and covenant? And are not outward altars, and candlesticks, and sanctuaries, and outward candles burning in your temples, Moses and the old testament? And while you read and do all these things, does not the apostle tell you, ‘the veil is over your hearts?’ For does not the apostle tell you, that Christ has abolished Moses' old testament, and has taken off his veil, and made his glory no glory, because the glory of the new covenant and testament has dimmed it, and done away the glory of the old?

And therefore, are not you under the veil, with your tenths, and tithes, and offerings, and candles, and candlesticks, in your temples, and altars, and outward places of worship, with your priests' distinguishing garments, and your feasts, and observing of days and times, and swearing to end strife and controversy among you? Is not this Moses and the old testament, and reading the old testament, and not the new testament and new covenant, which said, ‘Swear not at all, but let your communication be yes, yes, no, no?’ And Christ's righteousness is all the believers' fine linen, which are the children of the new covenant, and of the light, and their altar is spiritual; and Christ has enlightened their candle, their spirits, with the light, which is the life in him; which burns in their temple night and day. And so Christ, in his glorious new testament and new covenant, he has done away and abolished the first priesthood, with his garments, and offerings, and his outward lights, and altars, and feasts, and days, and carnal sanctuary, and oaths, and tithes. They are as blind as the Jews, who do not see him come in his new covenant to abolish all those things of the old; who said, in his new covenant, to his disciples and followers, “Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.’

And this is the glorious happiness and comfort, that all the children of the Lord in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, did and do enjoy, which exceeds the old covenant and testament, and old way in its glory, which is done away and abolished by Christ Jesus. So he has taken away the first and established the second, who walks in the midst of his heavenly golden candlesticks, and is the head of his holy sanctified church, and is alive, and ‘lives for evermore,’ who is ‘worthy to have glory and honor,’ the lamb that has been slain from the foundation of the world, who is razing down all the world's foundations, and he himself is the only holy, spiritual, safe, sure rock and foundation for his believers, which are living stones to build upon, who was, and is, and will be to all eternity the first and last. Glory to the Lord forever. Hallelujah, praises to the Lord forever, and for evermore.

George Fox

POSTSCRIPT

The law shows its righteousness by its works; and the gospel shows its righteousness by faith, which exceeds that of the law. The law wounds; but the gospel heals, and is glad tidings and good news. The law condemns; and the gospel delivers. Moses accuses; but Christ defends. Moses condemns; but Christ pardons. The law restrains the hands; but the gospel restrains the hands and the mind. The law condemns; but Christ saves. Moses, is a servant, in his signs, figures, and shadows; but Christ is a son, the substance, who takes away the sins, and signs, and makes all things new in his new covenant and new testament.